Coke oven door and door machinery



y 9, 1939 J. 5. POTTER 2,157,567

COKE OVEN DOOR AND DOOR MACHINERY Original Filed June 11, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 0 0T WaMZ ATTORN EY May 9, 1939. J. 5. POTTER COKE? OVEN DOOR AND DOOR MACHINERY Original Filed June 11, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Illlllllll ll lf llll.

R Rm WT W m5 y 1939. J. 5. POTTER 2,157,567

' COKE OVEN DOOR AND DOOR MACHINERY Original Filed June 11, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 BY 21W ATTORN EY Patented May 9, 1939 UNlTEl) STATES COKE OVEN DOOR AND DOOR MACHINERY .loel Sanford Potter, West Nyack, N. Y., assignor to bonds Wilputte, New Rochelle, N. Y.

Application June 11, 1936, Serial No. 84,596 Renewed May 27, .1938

27 Claims.

The present invention comprises improvements in coke oven doors and door handling mechanism of the general type and character disclosed in my prior application Serial No. 28,264, filed June 25, 1935, of which the present application is a continuation in part.

In my said prior application, I have disclosed a self-sealing coke oven door, claimed generically herein and broadly characterized by the fact that in its normal closed position the door is spring held in position against the cooperating door frame member by resilient means, which form a part of the door structure and act between the door body and one or more locking 5 bars mounted on the doorbody and spring pressed by said resilient means against stationary hook parts carried by, or in fixed relation with the door frame member. In a preferred construction disclosed in said prior application, the door includes provisions for engagement by special door handling mechanism to render said resilient means inoperative during the door removal and replacement operation. The special door handling mechanism of the prior application is adapted not only to perform the special operations mentioned above, but to move the door bodily into, away from, and back into its closed position.

The general object of the present invention is to provide improved means for utilizing the general principles of the invention disclosed in my prior application. A somewhat more specific object of the invention is to provide improvements in door and door handling mechanism, whereby the construction of the door may be simplified and cheapened, without sacrifice of operating characteristics obtained with the more expensive door construction disclosed" in my prior application. Another specific but important object of the invention is to facilitate the properengagement of the door by the door handling mechanism, by providing the latter provisions for its automatic adjustment on engagement with the door frame in accordance with the door frame position and form which may vary as a. result of oven brickwork or door frame distortion which may occur in operation.

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to, and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, however, its advantages, and specific objects attained with its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 is an elevation in section on the line l-I of Fig. 3, showing a portion'of a coke oven structure with a door thereof in its closed posi- 5 tion, and an associated door handling machine;

Fig. 2 is a view taken similarly to Fig. 1, illustrating a modified door and door machine construction;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 19- of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a partial elevation taken at. right angles to Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of parts of the construction of Fig. 2' taken similarly to Fig. 2, is but on a larger scale and with parts in different relative positions;

Fig. 6 is a View, taken similarly to Fig. l, illustrating a third form of door and door machine; and

to Fig. 6, of a portion of the door shown therein.

In the coke oven structure shown in part in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, horizontally elongated coking chambers A and heating walls B, are arranged side by side in a row, in which the coking chambers alternate with the heating walls: The coke oven masonry is reinforced and supported at the sides of the battery by a metallic armor, which as shown, comprises a flash plate C at each hea 30 ing wall end, a correspondingvertical buckstay D by which the flash plate is held in place, and a door frame member Eat each end of 'each coking chamber. Each door frame. member E may be, and as shown, is a one piece casting 35 extending around the door opening, and includes a portion E which extends into the coke oven brick work, and is shaped to provide an outadjacent buckstay members D, said connections 50 comprising parts d welded to the buckstays, clamping levers F, and bolts G. Each lever F has one end pressed against the door frame member, and has its other end pressed against the corresponding part 11 by a bolt G. Each 55 20 Fig. 7 is an elevation taken at right angles door frame member E, has rigidly attached thereto upper and lower hook parts HA at each side of the door. -The hook parts all extend upwardly.

The door illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, comprises a rigid outer frame section I, an inner plug section J of refractory material, and sealing means adapted to engage the above mentioned sealing surface E As shown, the frame section I comprises main vertical single bars connected by cross frame members which are welded at their ends to said channel bars, and which include the hereinafter mentioned members I, 1 I and i The sealing means portion of the door shown comprises a flexible metal plate K forming a section of the door intermediate the rigid outer frame section I and the inner plug section J. The plate K extends across the door way in the closed position of the door, and is formed with a transverse marginal flange K at its inner side. The edge of the flange K is pressed'into sealing engagement with the door frame surface E v in the closed position of the door. 1

In the door shown, the element K forms a mechanical connection between the rigid outer frame section I and the plug section J, through which the latter is supported from the frame section, when the door is being moved by door handling machinery engaging the section I as hereinafter described. To this end, in the particular door construction illustrated, the refractory plug section material is supported on a horizontal base portion K of a metallic bracket member K secured to the lower portion of the member K, and the latter is pivotally connected. adjacent its upper end to the outer frame section I by anonzontal shaft K through which the member K and the plug section J are suspended from the frame section I when the door is supported by the door handling machinery as hereinafter described. In the normal closed position of the door, the base portion K engages, and is supported by the subjacent sill portion of the door frame member E, as shown in Fig. 3. Horizontal screws L extending parallel to the length of the 'oven, and threaded through brackets I carried by the outer frame section I, engage bearing parts K secured to the flexible element K adjacent its outer margin, at points distributed around the doorway, and form means by which the edge K may be caused to bear properly against the door frame sealing surface, notwithstanding relative distortion of the door frame andadoor parts developing in use. Upper and lower locking bars M and m, respectively, are

- mounted on the outer frame section I for engagement of each end of each bar with a corresponding hook HA secured to the door frame, to releasably secure the door in its closed position.

The particular door arrangement illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, insofar as it has been described in detail, is a typical example of one of various forms of self sealing coke oven doors with which my invention may be used with advantage. Various above mentioned special features of door construction and arrangement shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, form the subject matter of the Louis Wilbutte Patent No. 2,025,967, and applications Serial No. 977, filed January 8, 1935, and Serial No. 52,995, flled December 5, 1935, are not necessarily employed in coke oven doors with which the present invention is used. For the purpose of the present invention, it is in general essential, however, that the door should comprise a strong outer metallic portion on which locking bars, such as the bars M and m are mounted, and that the door should be of the self sealing type, and comprise sealing means like, or more or less analogous to those formed by the plate K with its sealing edge K, for engagement with a door frame sealing surface like or analogous to I the hereinbefore mentioned surface E In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, the iocking bars M and m are similar, and are similarly mounted on the door section I for limited horizontal movement toward and away from the section I, and are moved vertically, and without rotation, into and out of engagement with the hooks HA. The bar M is slidingly moun d on the reduced outer end portion of a orizontal plunger 0 extending transversely of the battery and mounted between two spaced apart cross frame members I and I of the outer door section I. The bar M is held against r'otative movement about the axis of the plunger 0 by brackets MI secured to the vertical bar portions of the door section I and through which the ends of the bar M extend. Similarly brackets MI prevent movement of the bar M except in the direction of the axis of the plunger 0.

The cross frame members I and 1* shown, are in the form of heavy horizontal metal plates or bars, welded or otherwise secured at theirends to the vertical angle bar members of the door section I. The member 0 is a spring pressed plunger element, comprising an intermediate enlarged or collar portion 0 slidingly received in 'an aperture formed for the purpose in an uprising plunger support P. The latter has a convex inner face bearing against the edges of the cross frame members I and I and as shown, is loosely held in place. For that purpose the member P is formed with inwardly extending arms P resting on the cross frame member 1 and connected to the latter by bolts P which pass loosely through bolt holes in the arms P to permit some self-adjustment of the member P relative to the members, I and I. The portion 0 of the plunger 0, which is at'the inner side of, and smaller in cross section than the collar portion 0 is surrounded by a helical spring PO acting between the plunger portion 0? and an abutment yoke P connected to the support P by bolts P As shown, the abutment part P has its ends slidingly received between /the members I and I and assists in holding the plunger member 0 in proper relation to the parts I and I. The yoke P is formed with an aperture through which the inner end of the plunger portion 0 extends and in which the latter is slidingly received. As shown, the spring PO acts on the collar 0 through an annular bearing part PO which surrounds the plunger portion 0 and extends radially outward beyond the periphery of the'portion 0, so that when the plunger 0 does not oppose the expansion of the spring P0, the latter expands and-moves the plunger outward until the bearing part PO engages the adjacent face of the member P. The outward thrust of the spring pressed plunger 0 on the bar M is transmitted from the shoulder at the inner end of the reduced plunger portion 0" to the bar, through a washer or washers O of suitable thickness. The outer end of the plunger portion 0 is threaded and has screwed on it a cap member 0 and a lock nut 0 by which the cap member can be secured to the plunger in any desired position. The cap Beneath the cross frame member is a third cross frame F, in the form of a vertically disposed plate or bar having its ends welded to the vertical angle bar portions of the door section I. As hereinafter explained, the member I serves as the door part through which the door may be lifted by the door handling machine, and through which the machine takes the tension of the spring PO off the locking bar M as hereinafter described. Associated with the lower locking bar 112 are parts ,9, and mi corresponding to the previously mentioned parts 0 I and MI, respectively, and parts corresponding to the above mentioned parts 1 I, I 1, 0-0 0 PP PO, and PO, respectively.

In respect to the mounting of the locking bars M and m on the spring pressed plungers, and the supporting provisions for those plungers and the springs associated therewith, the door shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, does not differ from doors disclosed and claimed in my said prior application. The doors of my prior application, however, include nothing corresponding to the brackets MI and 1m, and include locking bars adapted to turn about the corresponding spring pressed plungers, into and out of locking engagement with the door frame hooks, without requiring vertical movement of the door to thus operatively engage and disengage the locking bars and hooks. The door shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4 herein, must be bodily raised and lowered to move the locking bars into and out of engagement with the door frame carried hooks, though this is not true of the door shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

The door machine shown in Figs, 1 and 3, comprises a carriage RA running on track rails 1' which extend along the coke side of the battery. and the carriage RA is provided with the horizontal rails RA extending transversely to the rails r, engaged by the wheels RD of a carriage RD, which is movable on the carriage RA toward and away from the side of the coke oven structure. The door handling mechanism proper, is mounted on the carriage RD. At the opposite side of the coke oven structure, the carriage RD and door handling machinery mounted thereon, ordinarily would be mounted, not on a special carriage RA,

but on the pusher machine employed to force the coke out of the oven chamber.

As shown in Fig. 1, the carriage RD is given its movements toward and away from the adjacent sides of the coke oven structure, by means of a crank arm RB carried by a crank shaft R3 journalled in the carriage RA, and rotated through gearing enclosed in a gear casing R13 by a motor oscillated shaft RB- The crank arm RE is connected to the carriage RD by a link BB ineluding a spring permitting the link to contract in length when the door handling machinery engages a door frame E as hereinafter described. The motor (not shown) for oscillating the shaft RB may be provided with limit switches deter- I mining the arc of movement of the crank arm uprising hollow column RD to which a member RE is pivotally connected by a horizontal pivot shaft R parallel to the side of the coke oven structure and advantageously located at a level about midway between the door frame top and bottom levels. As shown, the pivot shaft R is supported in a-bracket R carried by, and vertially adjusted upon the column RD. As shown, the adjustment is effected by suspension bolts R extending downwardly through a top portion RD of the column which overhangs the bracket, and threaded into the latter. The bracket inany verticaladjustment, may be anchored to the column portion RD by clamping bolts R extending through the bracket and slots in a vertical wall of the column portion RD.

As is shown in Figs, 1 and 3, the member RE -comprises a body portion in the form of a vertical beam of channel bar cross section, having top or bottom buffer portions RE and RE adapted to engage the door frame E at or adjacent the upper and lower ends of the latter, respectively. Alateral projection from the body portion of the member RE extends over the column RD*, and is limited in its movement toward the latter by an adjustable stop R shown as formed by .replaceable washers surrounding a bolt R engaging the column top RD and a spring abutment R engaged by the upper end of a spring R which has its lower end engaging the bottom wall of the extension RE. The member RE and column RD may conveniently be made wholly or mainly of steel plate parts welded together. The spring lit should be strong enough to hold the extension RE against the stop R except when the Buffers RE and RE are in engagement with a door frame E as shown in Fig. l. The parts are advantageously so proportioned and arranged that when the extension RE is in engagement with the stop R and the member RE is moved toward the door frame, the latter will be engaged by the lower buffer RE prior to its engagement bythe top buffer RE. As the movement of the member RE continues, the member RE tilts about the pivot shaft R until the buffer RE engages the door frame.

Upper and lower hook levers SA adapted to engage the upper and lower door parts I and F, are mounted on-the member RE. As shown in Fig. 1, each lever SA is pivotally connected at T to a crank arm T secured .to, and depending from a corresponding rock shaft T journalled at its ends in the opposite sides of the member RE. Each rock shaft '1' has a horizontally dlsposed arm T connected by a spring T to the member RE, and tending to hold said arm T and the corresponding pivotal support T in their respective positions shown in Fig. 1, the arm T being then held against further movement in the clockwise direction by engagement with a suitable stop T carried by the member RE. The extent of movement in the counter-clockwise direction of each rock shaft T is limited by an adjustable stop SA carried by the member RE and adapted to be engaged by a projection SA from the corresponding lever SA. Each lever SA is biased for movement in the clockwise direction about its pivotal support T by a spring. SA acting between the lever and the member RE. At its end adjacent the coke oven structure, each lever SA is provided with an uprising hook extension SA adapted to engage the inner side of the corresponding door part I or i when the corresponding door spring P0 or pc is compressed.

As is shown in Fig. 1, the levers SA are given corresponding member Q positive clockwise movements and counter-clockwise movements against the action' of their springs 8A by the oscillation of a rock shaft W parallel to the rock shafts T and journalled in the member RE, and carrying a crank arm W The latter is connected by a link W to a lever U pivotally connectedby a pivot SU to the upper lever SA, and is connected by a link W to a lever U connected by a pivot SU to the lower lever SA. The crank shaft W is oscillated through crank arms W secured to the end of the shaft W and each connected by-a link' W to a crank arm X carried at the corresponding end of a crank shaft X The latter is journalled in a gear casing X which is mounted on the extension RE of the member RE, and supports a motor X which turns the crank shaft X Pivotally connected to each lever SA between its hook SA and pivotal connection T is a Each member Q serves in the door handling operation, as a thrust member interposed between the corresponding plunger end and the corresponding lever U. The extent of clockwise movement permitted each lever U is limited by a stop SU' carried by the corresponding lever SA.

In operation, when the door handling machinery is first moved into engagement with a door, preparatory to the removal of the latter, the crank shaft W occupies a position slightly counter-clockwise from that shown in Fig. 1, so that the levers SA then have their hook portions A below the door parts I and i After the buffers RE and RE engage the door frame, the motor X is operated to turn the shaft I in the clockwise direction with the result that the levers SA are permitted -to turn under the action of their bias springs SA into their positions shown in Fig. 1, in which the levers engage the end edges of the door parts I3 and 1' with the hook portions SA spaced from the door parts I and i by a small clearance distance.

As the clockwise rotation of the shaft W continues, their engagement with the door temporarily interrupts the clockwise movement of the levers SA, with the result that the levers U are given counterclockwise movements about their pivotal connections S by the links W and W. The counter-clockwise movements of the levers SU force the thrust members Q into engagement as shown in Fig. 1, with the upper and lower plunger end caps 0 and thereby move the levers SA bodily away from the door until such movement is interrupted by the engagement of the hook portions SA with the door parts I and i Further counter-clockwise movement of each lever U results in the compression of the springs P0 and p0, and thereby render those springs inoperative to press the door sealing flange K against the door frame and to press the locking bars M and m against the door frame hooks.

While with the particular form and arrangement of the parts illustrated in Fig. 1, the members Q act as levers in the spring compressing operation, the lever action of the members Q is not essential, and they are employed primarily as a convenient means for transmitting pressure to the ends of the plungers produced by movement of the levers U relative to the corresponding levers SA. In the particular arrangement shown in Fig. 1, the levers U subject the members Q to a cam action, and advantageously, as shown, each lever U includes an anti-friction roller which directly engages the corresponding member Q.

' The counter-clockwise movement of the levers U, as seen in Fig. 1, may be terminated after a sufficient compression of the door springs, PO by positive stop means, or as a result of the increase in the tension of those springs, and in either case, the further movement of the crank shaft W in the clockwise direction, will then cause a clockwise movement of the levers SA, lifting the door sufliciently to carry the locking bars M and m above the door frame hooks HA. Inasmuch as the door springs P0 are rendered inoperative before the door lifting movement begins, that movement does not result in significant wear of the sealing edge of the door flange K, or of .the sealing surface E of the door.

After the door has thus been unlocked and its weight transferred from the door frame to the door handling machinery, the crank RE is given a clockwise adjustment, as seen in Fig. l, which may be approximately a half turn, to move the carriage RD away from the coke oven structure far enough to carry the inner side of the door well beyond the outer edges of the buckstays D. Thereafter, in normal operation, the carriage RA is moved along the track rails r sufficiently to one side of the oven chamber to which the door pertains, to permit the discharge of coke from that chamber, and thereafter the door machinery operations previously described are performed in reverse order, to again place the door in its closed and locked position.

As the carriage RD is moved away from the coke oven structure in the door removing operation, the member RE is turned about the pivot R clockwise, as seen in Fig. 1, by the spring R until the extension RE engages the stop R. In consequence, when the door is put back in place, the initial engagement of the door with the door frame E is at the bottom of the latter,

and as the door is then tilted and lowered into engagement with the'sill portion of the door frame, proper contact of the lower portion of the sealing flange K with the door frame sealing surface E is insured. Normally, the flange K is brought into engagement with the seat E all along the length of that seat before the door springs PO and p0 are permitted to expand. It is to be noted, however, that even though the door handling machinery should fail to establish proper contact of the upper portion of the sealing flange K with the seat E such contact would be established by the action of the two springs PO.

Those springs, although their aggregate spring force may amount to many thousands of pounds, could not be relied upon, however, to force the lower portion of the flange-K clockwise, as seen in Fig. 1, into proper contact with the seat E if such contact were not established before the transfer of the weight of the door from the door handling machinery to the sill portion of the door frame, owing to the very considerable weight of the door. While that weight will vary with the width and height of the coking chamber, and may vary as a result of changes in door design, it amounts at a minimum, to many hundreds of pounds, and, by way of illustration, it is noted that in one commercial form of the door illustrated, designed for use with a coke oven chamber of commercial dimensions, the weight of the door is approximately 4900 lbs.

The door and door machinery arrangement illustrated in Figs. 1,3, and 4, differs importantly from a preferred construction illustrated in my said prior application, which included'lever elements through which the door machine 0perated on the plungers O to compress the door springs, in a manner generally analogous to that in which the above mentioned thrust members U are employed. In effect, by-transferring such thrust members from the doors to the door machinery, a very considerable saving in construction expense is obtained, since a single door machine ordinarily serves many doors, in some cases 150 or more doors. The removal of the thrust levers from the doors is advantageous, also, in that it permits the doors to be more compact, and reduces the maximum extent to which the doors and door frame hooks necessarily project from the door frame.

The door machine of my prior application included no such tilting member as the member R shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The use of that member gives important practical advantages, in that it materially reduces the clearance between the hook portions 8A and the door parts I and i illustrated in Fig. 1, required to insure that distortion of the door frame and door, and variation in the relation between the plane including the inner sides of the door portions I and i and the plane including the engaging vertical sides of the hook portions SA, will not prevent each of said hook portions from moving to the inner side of the corresponding door part I or i of any door served by the door machine. As will be apparent, deviation of one of those planes relative to the other about an axis parallel to the axis of the pivot R does not tend to vary the relation of the distance between the upper hook portion SA and door part 1 and the distance betweenthe lower hook portion 3A and door part i when the door handling apparatus is in the condition shown in Fig. 1.

While to accommodate door frame and door distortion, the screws L, shown in Figs. 1 and 3, will normally be adjusted so that different portions of the sealing edge of the flange K will be at different distances from the general plane of the inner sides of the door parts I and i it is practically feasible and desirable to permanently hold the horizontal top and bottom portions of said sealing edge at an approximately constant distance from said plane. In consequence, the distance from that plane to the planes of engagement of the top and bottom portions of the door frame with the upper and lower buffer portions RE and RE of the member RE, may, and should be, made the same for each door and door frame E, with which the door handling machine coacts. This permits the required clearance between the hookportions SA and the said door parts I and i and the required horizontal movement of each portion SA, relative to the member RE, to be kept very small.

The general advantages of the improvements shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, may be obtained with other forms of apparatus, one of which is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5. The door construction illustrated in the last mentioned figures, differs from that of Figs. 1, 3; and 4, only in respect to the form and mounting of the locking bars. The locking bar MA, shown in Figs. 2 and 5, is formed with a vertically elongated slot M receiving the portion 0' of the spring pressed plunger 0, and the slots in the bracket members IM, .are correspondingly elongated vertically, so that the movement of the bar MA from its normal lockand out of engagement with the door framehooks HA, does not require a corresponding movement of the door off the door sill portion of the door frame. The lower locking bar ma may be, and as shown is identical in form and mounting with the upper locking bar MA.

The door machine shown in Figs. 2 and 5, may be, and as shown is practically identical in structure and with that shown in Figs. 1 and 3, except in respect to the means associated with the levers SA to compress the door springs and lift the door, and the addition to the member RE of latch bar engaging springs RE and RE". There are two springs RE associated with each locking bar, arranged one at each side of the corresponding plunger 0, and serving to facilitate the movement of the locking bar into engagement with the hooks in the door replacing operation. The springs RE supplement gravitational action in biasing the locking bars for, and overcoming frictional resistance to the down movement of the locking bars into their looking portions. The springs RE also hold the locking bars horizontal. Two springs RE are provided, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, to act on each locking bar in the direction to hold the latter against the end of the portion 0 of the corresponding plunger, in all axial adjustments of the latter.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 2 and 5, each of the similar upper and lower door engaging hooks SB, differs essentially from the hook SA previously described, only in that the coopdiffering somewhat in form from the latter. Each member U as shown, is provided with an engaging surface U, as shown in Fig. 5, which engages the lever SB, intermediate its supporting pivot T and hook S13 to thereby lift the door after a clockwise adjustment of the member U sufficient to compress the spring PO. As shown, the surface U is curved to provide a concave seat for the hub portion Q of the corresponding member Q surrounding the pivot pin Q pivotally connecting the part Q to the lever SB.

In Fig. 5, the parts are shown in the positions in which the spring PO is fully compressed, and further clockwise movement of the member U will result in a corresponding up-movement of the door. As the part U turns clockwise into the position shown in Fig. 5, a portion U of the latter then at the inner side of the hub Q and above the latterfengages the locking bar MA and raises the latter. To insure the proper extent of lifting movement of the bar MA, the latter may be provided with an adjustable abutment for engagement by the part U As shown in Fig. 5, that abutment is formed by the head of a screw M screwed into the under side of the bar MA. The parts associated with the lower hook SB, may be identical in form with those associated with the upper hook SB and shown in Fig. 5.

As shown in Fig. 2, the operating connections for the hooks SB including the rock shaft W may be identical with those for operating the hooks SA, though some differences in the relative adjustment of the crank arms carried by the rock shaft W are shown.

The general operation of the door machine shown in Figs. 2 and 5, is essentially the same as that of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 3, except that with the machine of Figs. 2 and 5, the locking bars MA are vertically moved relative to the door into and out of engagement with the door frame hooks HA. Since no significant vertical movement of the door is required to-move the locking bars into or out of engagement with the door frame hooks, the required vertical movement of the door effected by the door machine, need be only sufficient to transfer the weight of the door from the door frame to the door handling machinery and to provide desirable clearance betweenthe plug section of the door and the sill portion of the door frame, notwithstanding such variations in the distance between the level of said sill and the level of the rails RA, as may exist. With each of the door machine forms illustrated, it is immaterial, except for stress variations in parts which may readily be made amply strong to withstand the maximum stresses to which they may be subjected, whether the weight of the door is carried wholly by the upper or wholly by the lower hook, or is divided more or less equally between the two hooks.

The springs RE shown in Figs. 2 and 5, serve a purpose with the locking bars MA vertically movable relative to the door, which they could not serve with the latching bars shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, but the springs RE, however, may be used with the construction shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4. With each construction, there is the same advantage in having the locking bars forced to follow the axial movements of the spring pressed plungers, as the door springs are compressed.

The door shown in Figs. 6 and 7 differs from the door forms previously described in respect to the disposition of the springs POA acting on the latch bars MB. In Figs. 6 and 7, the spring POA acting on the upper latch bar, has one end connected to a rigid abutment flange portion 1 of the web or plate-like body portion I of a rigid door frame section casting, and has its other end connected to an arm I pivotally connected to said casting by a pivot shaft I As shown, the shaft I is supported at its ends in the hub portions I of a bracket member I bolted to the web 1 of the door casting which has an outwardly extendingmarginal flange. An uprising projection I from said member 1 is connected by links I to the upper latch bar MB.

In the closed and locked position of the door, shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the upper latch bar engages the door irame hooks HA and the corresponding spring POA,-through the arm 1 its projection I pivot I and links I, exerts a resilient force tending to move the latch bar outward from the door and thereby presses the sealing edge K of the door against. the door frame sealing surface. As will be apparent, force applied to the arm I and turning the latter counterclockwise while increasing the tension of the spring POA, will prevent the spring from acting between, and tending to separate the door and latch bar, and will move the latch bar toward the door. As shown, moreover, a slight initial counter-clockwise movement of the arm I Will bring the latter into engagement with the latch bar MB, so that as the turning movement of the arm is continued, the latch bar will be lifted. With the door in its locked position, the clockwise wise. an abutment formed by an extension RE from movement of the lever 1 is limited by the engagement of the bottom of the latch barwith the hooks HA.

The lower latch bar MB, shown in Fig. 6, may be exactly like the upper latch bar, and similarly associated with a lower arm I, mounted and arranged as is the upper arm 1, except that the lower supporting bracket 2' includes nothing corresponding to the portion I of the upper member I provided for engagement by the door lifting hook member of a door machine.

The door machine employed to remove and replace the door shown in Figs. 6 and 7, may take various forms, and in particular, may be substantially identical with the door machines shown in Figs. 1 and 2, except in respect to certain of its door engaging features. As shown in Fig. 6, the door machine includes a hook lever SB pivotally connected to the door frame member RE by a pivot shaft RE and turned clockwise about that pivot shaft to bring its hook portion SB into engagement with the door part I, by a rock shaft W crank arm W, and link W like those shown in Fig. 1, except that the upper end of the link W of Fig. 6 is pivotally connected directly to the hook lever SB. As the latter is turned clockwise in the door removing operation, an anti-friction roller SB carried by the lever, engages the upper arm I and turns the latter counter-clockwise. The clockwise movement of the hook lever SB is continued until the latch bar is lifted above the tops of the hooks HA and the door is lifted sufficiently by the engagement of the hook lever'with the door part 1 The door machine shown in Fig. 6, includes a lever sb pivotally connected to the member RE and oscillated by the crank shaft W through a link 23, to thereby take the tension of the lower spring. POA off the lower latch bar MB in the same manner as the upper latch bar is relieved from the spring action and is lifted. The lower lever sb, however, has no door engaging hook portion, and carries no part of the weight of the door in the door lifting operation. The lower lever sb is given turning movements corresponding to those of the upper lever SB, by a connecting link W As shown in Fig. 6, the door is lifted in the door removing operation, the member RE being then in engagement with the door frame, by means of the door part I which is well above'at the outer side of the center of gravity of the door, there would be a tendency of the lower portion of the door to move outward and to press the top portion of the door sealing flange against the door frame member, unless preventive means were provided. Such preventive means, are shown in Fig. 6 as comprising a bell crank lever RE pivotally mounted in abracket extension RE from the member RE below the level of the lower bracket and a spring RE? acting between the bracket RE and the bell crank RE, and tending to turn the latter clock- As shown, the spring R122 acts between the bracket RE, and a movable abutment engaged by the lower end of-the spring and connected by a bolt or link member to the horizontal arm of the bell crank RE; The depending vertically disposed arm of the latter carries an anti-friction roller adapted to engage a portion I of the rigid door web portion I.

As will be apparent, in respect to the form and disposition of the means through which the springs POA are associated withthe door and its latch bars, the construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is somewhat simpler and less expensive to construct than the construction first described. With the construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7, also, the normal action of each spring POA tending to move the corresponding latch bar away from the door, is relieved by a vertical force, applied to a part I by lever SB or sb. In consequence, the relieving force has little or.no tendency to press the door against the door frame. The horizontal reaction to the spring relieving force which must be taken by the outward pull on the door part I or 1 with the construction first described, to prevent excessive pressure of engagement of the door with the door frame, insofar as it finds an analogue in the construction of Figs. 6 and 7, is a vertical reaction, and is resisted by the weight of the door. 3 To prevent vertical movement of the door while the springs POA of Figs. 6 and 7, are still effective to press the sealing edge of the door against the seat on the door frame, the aggregate force applied to the arms I by the levers SB and sb, should be suitably less than the weight of the door. This does not require, however, that in the normal locked position of the door, the a gregate force exerted by the springs POA between the door and the latch bars, should be less than the weight of the door, since the lever arm length or distance between the axis of shaft I and its pivotal connection to the corresponding links I", may be a fraction, only, of the lever arm length or distance between said axis and the point at which the corresponding arm I is engaged by the hook lever SB or sb.

As shown, the length of the last mentioned arm is about double that of the first mentioned arm.

In Fig. 1, the upper and lower beam portions RE and RE, are adapted to engage the horizontal top and bottom portions of the door frame, respectively, but either of said beam portions may be arranged to engage the sides of the door frame adjacent the corresponding end of the frame, as the lower beam portion Rll is shown as engaging the door frame in Fig. 2. A beam' portion adapted to so engage the sides of the door frame, may be connected to the beam as is the portion RE shown in Fig. 2, to have the limited turning movement relative to the beam about a vertical axis which maybe required to accommodate such door frame warping as may occur.

Novel door and door machine combinations disclosed but not claimed herein, are claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 95,806, filed August 13. 1936.

The term coke oven door used in the appended claims, is intended to designate, and to restrict each claim including the term to, a door closure for the end of a horizontally elongated coking chamber of the kind, and having such dimensions as are commonly employed in the chambers used for the production of metallurgical coke, and said term is particularly intended to distinguish the subject matter of each claim including the term from closures forgas making retorts of the general character disclosed in the U. S. Patent No. 1.145.672. and in the British Patent No. 23,471 of 1893. Such gas retort closures differ substantially from coke oven doors in size, weight and operative characteristics and requirements.

While in accordance with. the provisions of the statutes I have illustrated and described the best embodiments of my invention now known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the forms of apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims, and that certain features of the invention may sometimes be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. The combination with a coke oven door having an outer portion adapted to be engaged by a door lifting and extracting hook, of a horizontal plunger'transverse to the door and extending away from the outer side of the latter, and mounted on'the door for axial movement, resilient means tending to move said plunger away from the door, a locking bar mounted on, and adapted to share in the axial movement of the plunger, and a door machine including a door lifting and extracting hook and a lever adapted to engage said door portion and plunger, respectively, and subject them to opposing forces moving the plunger toward the door.

2. A combination as specified in claim 1, in which the plunger is axially movable relative to the locking bar and in which said door machine includes means resiliently engaging said locking bar and tending to move the latter with the plunger when the latter is axially moved toward the door.

3. A combination as specified in claim 1, in which said plunger engaging lever and said hook are pivotally connected to one another, and including means for turning said lever relative to said hook to thereby subject the door and plunger to said opposing forces.

4. A combination as specified in claim 1, including a cam lever, and in which said cam lever and plunger engaging lever are separately pivoted to said hook to turn relative to the latter about displaced axes, and including means adapted to turn said cam lever relative to said hook into engagement with the plunger engaging lever, and thereby turn the latter relative to said hook to create said opposing forces acting on the door and plunger.

5. A combination as specified in claim 1, in which said locking bar is vertically movable relative to said plunger and in which the door machine includes means acting on said hook and lever to create said opposing forces and to thereafter lift said hook first into lifting engagement with said locking bar and subsequently into lifting engagement with said door.

6. A combination as specified in claim 1, in which said locking bar is vertically movable relative to said plunger and in which the door machine includes means acting on said hook and lever to create said opposing forces and to thereafter lift said hook into lifting engagement with said locking bar and subsequently into lifting engagement with said door, and includes resilient means tending to move said locking bar downward.

'7. The combination with a coke oven door adapted to be removably seated in a stationary door frame and including a portion adapted for engagement by a door lifting hook, of an axially movable horizontal plunger transverse to the door and extending away from the outer side of the latter, resilient means tending to move said plunger away from the door, a locking bar mounted on and adapted to share axial movement of said plunger, and a door machine comprising a structure movable toward and away from the door frame, a beam pivotally connected to said structure to turn relatively thereto about a horizontal axis as required to bring upper and lower portions of said beam into engagement with the upper and lower portions, respectively, of said door frame, a hook lever having a lifting and extracting hook at one end adapted to engage said door portion, a pivotal connection between the other end of said lever and said beam, said pivotal connection being horizontally adjustable relative to said beam toward and away from said door frame, a second lever pivotally connected to said hook lever and adapted to turn relatively thereto into engagement with said plunger, and a cam lever pivotally connected to the first mentioned lever to turn relatively thereto about an axis displaced from the axis of the pivotal connection between the hook and second levers and adapted to thereby turn said second lever against said plunger and subject the latter to a force moving said plunger toward the door and to subject the latter through said hook lever to a reactive force opposing the first mentioned force.

8. A combination as specified in claim 7, including means for subjecting said cam lever to a turning force including an upward component by which said hook lever is raised to lift the door after said plunger has been moved toward said door.

9. A combination as specified in claim 7, including means for subjecting said cam lever to a force initially operative to turn said cam lever and move said plunger toward said door and thereafter operative to raise said hook lever and liftsaid door, and including bias means for moving said hook lever into engagement with said door portion prior to the door lifting operation.

10. The combination with a coke oven door, of an element pivotally mounted on said door, resilient means acting between said door and element biasing the latter for turning movement in one direction, and a locking bar operatively engaged by said element and moved away from the door by the said turning movement.

11. The combination of a coke oven door, of an element mounted on said door for angular movement about a horizontal axis, and comprising a vertically disposed portion and a horizontally disposed portion, a locking bar, a connection between the latter and said vertically disposed portion, and a spring connecting said door and element and tending to turn said element in the direction to move said locking bar away from the door, said element being adapted to be turned in the opposite direction by the application of a vertical force to said horizontally disposed portion.

12. The combination with a coke oven'door, adapted to seat against a door frame, and formed at its outer side with a portion adapted for engagement by a door lifting hook, of an element pivoted to said door for angular movement about a horizontal axis and comprising a vertically disposed portion and a horizontally disposed portion, a locking bar adapted to engage ,up-turned hooks stationary with respect to said door frame, a link connection between said locking bar and said vertically disposed portion, a spring acting between said door and element and tending to turn the latter in the direction to move said bar away from said door, and a door machine comprising a vertically movable member adapted on an upward movement to engage said horizontally disposed portion and turn said element against the action of the spring and then to engage and lift said latch bar relative to said door and hooks and thereafter to engage and lift said door.

13. In a horizontal coke oven battery, the combination with a coke oven structure comprising a horizontal coking chamber with a door seat and door securing means at one end of said chamber, of a coke oven door adapted to engage said seat, a locking member mounted on said door for movement toward and away from the latter and for movement parallel to said door into and out of engagement with said securing means, resilient means normally acting between said member and door and tending to press them apart, an engag ing part connected to the door, a door machine including a door supporting member horizontally movable relative to said structure toward and away from said seat, and also transversely of the latter, and door engaging means mounted on said supporting member and comprising a hook adapted to engage said engaging part and there by subject the door to a pull in a direction transverse'to and away from said seat, and means adapted to engage said resilient means and thereby subject the door to a thrust opposite in direction to said pull which in conjunction with said pull interrupts the action of said resilient means between said door and locking member.

14. The combination with a coke oven door adapted to be held in engagement with a door seat and including an upper part and a lower part each-adapted for engagement by a door machine hook, of upper and lower locking bars mounted on said door and respectively adjacent said upper and lower parts and each movable toward and away from the door, a separate resilient device associated with each bar and acting between the latter and the door and tending to move them apart, and a door machine comprising upper and lower hook members adapted to engage said upper and lower parts, respectively, means movable relative to each hook member when in engagement with the corresponding part and adapted on such'movement to subject the corresponding resilient device to opposing stresses and thereby interrupt its action on the adjacent locking bar. a

15. The combination with a coke oven door adapted to be held in engagement with a door seat and including an upper part and a lower part each adapted for engagement by a door machine hook, of upper and lower locking bars mounted on said door and respectively adjacent said upper and lower parts and each movable toward and away from the door, a separate resilient device associated with each bar and acting between the latter and the door and tending to move them apart, and a door machine comprising upper and lower hook members adapted to engage said upper and lower parts, respectively, means movable relative to each hook member when in engagement with the corresponding part and adapted on such movement to subject the corresponding resilient device to opposing stresses and thereby interrupt its action on the adjacent locking bar, and means for simultaneously moving the two hook members into engagement with the two parts and for thereafter simultaneously moving the first mentioned means and for thereafter raising the hook members and thereby lifting the door.

16. The combination with a coke oven door adapted to be held in engagement with a door seat and including an upper part and a lower part each adapted for engagement by a door machine hook, of upper and lower locking bars mounted on said door and respectively adjacent said upper and lower parts and each movable toward and away from the door, a separate resilient device associated with each bar and acting between the latter and the door and tending to'move them apart, and a door machine comprising upper and lower hook members adapted to engage said upper and lower parts, respectively, means inovable relative to each hook member when in engagement with the corresponding part and adapted on such movement to subject the corresponding resilient device to opposing stresses and thereby interrupt its action on the adjacent locking bar, and means for simultaneously moving the two hook members into engagement with the two parts and for thereafter simultaneously moving the first mentioned means and for thereafter raising the hook members and thereby lifting the door, the vertical distance between hook members relative to the vertical distance between said parts being such that the lower hook member will not be moved into lifting engagement with said lower part by movement of the upper hook member into lifting engagement with said upper part.

17. The combination with a self-sealing coke oven door for a horizontal coke oven structure having a seat surrounding a coking chamber end and associated door holding means, said door being adapted to engage and normally make a gas tight contact with said seat when subjected to efiective sealing pressure, of a locking bar mounted on the door for movement toward and awayfrom the latter, and adapted to engage iii) said holding means to be thereby held against movement away from said seat when the door is in engagement with the latter, and resilient means acting between said bar and door and tending to move them apart and including a.

metallic spring, the tension of which in the normally closed position of the door with said looking bar in engagement with said holding means and said door in engagement with said seat, is dependent on the displacement of the bar from the door and determines the sealing pressure to which said door is subjected.

18. A combination as specified in claim 17, in which said resilient means is adapted for the application of force thereto, to thereby neutralize the tendency of said resilient means to' move said door and locking bar apart and relieve the sealing pressure of the door against the door seat.

19. A combination as specified in claim 17,

adapted for the application of force acting between the door and said resilient means to thereby neutralize the tendency of the latter to move said door and locking bar apart and relieve the sealingpressure of the door against the door seat.

20. A combination as specified in claim 17, in which said locking bar is movable relative to the door in a direction parallel to the plane of the latter between locking and releasing positions in which it is respectively adapted to engage and clear the holding means of the coke oven structure.

21. A combination as specified in claim 17 in which the resilient means comprises a plunger transverse to the plane of the door and mounted in the latter for movement in the direction of the length of the plunger, and a spring acting between the, plunger and the door.

22. Acombination as specified in claim 17, in which the resilient means comprises a plunger transverse to the plane of the door and mounted on the latter for movement in the direction of the length of the plunger, and a spring acting between the plunger and the door, and in which the locking bar is mounted on said plunger for turning movement into and out of position to engage the holding means of the coke oven structure.

23. A combination as specified in claim 17, in which the resilient means comprises a plunger extending in direction generally transverse to the plane of the door, and movable relative to the spring acting between the door and plunger, and tending to move the latter in the direction of its length away from the door, and in which the combination includes a support in which the plunger is mounted for movement in the direction of its length, said support being loosely mounted on said door with freedom for adjustment relative thereto in response to force acting on the locking bar and tending to tilt said plunger.

24. A combination as specified in claim 1'7, including a part movably mounted on said door and adapted to be engaged by a door machine and thereby moved relative to the door to thereby subject said resilient means to force, relieving the tendency of said means to move said door and locking bar apart.

25. A combination as specified in claim 1'7, in which said resilient means is adjustable to vary the tension of said metallic spring for a given displacement of said bar from said door.

26. In a horizontal coke oven battery, the combination with a coke oven structure comprising a horizontal coking chamber with a door seat and door securing means at one end of said chamber, of a coke oven door adapted to engage said seat, a locking member mounted on said door for movement toward andaway from the latter and adapted to engage said securing means and be thereby held against movement away from the door when the latter is locked in its closed position, and resilient means normally acting between said member and door and tending to press them apart, an engaging part connected to the door, a door machine including a.

door supporting member horizontally movable relative to said structure toward and away from said seat, and also transversely of the latter, and door engaging means mounted on said supporting member and comprising a hook adapted to engage said engaging part and thereby subject the door to a pull in a direction transverse to and away from said seat, and means adapted to engage said resilient means and thereby subject the door to a thrust opposite in direction to said pull, which in conjunction with said pull, interrupts the action ofsaid resilient means between said door and locking member.

2'7. In a horizontal coke. oven battery, the combination with a coke oven structure comprising a horizontal coking chamber with a door seat and door securing means at one end of said chamber, of a coke oven door adapted to engage said seat, a locking member mounted on said door for movement toward and away from the latter and adapted to engage said securing means and be thereby held against movement away from the door when the latter is locked in its closed position, resilient means normally acting ber and comprising a lever adapted to turn about a horizontal axis to engage said engaging part and thereby lift the door and having a hook portion adapted to engage said engaging part and thereby subject the door to a. pull in a direcbetween said member and door and tending to tion transverse to and away from said seat and means including a second lever pivotally connected to the first mentioned lever and adapted, when said second lever is turned relative to the first mentioned lever, to engage said resilient means and thereby subject the door to a thrust opposite in direction to said pull which in conjunction with said pull interrupts the engagement between said door and said locking member.

JOEL SANFORD PO'I'I'ER. 

